Wintermute Biomedical, a global company working to combat antimicrobial resistance through the development of next generation-antibiotics, has moved its US operation to La Trobe University’s Research and Innovation Precinct.
The Wintermute team discovered and patented a broad-spectrum antibiotic with potential in the treatment of a wide-range infectious diseases. It is currently seeking to move the drug into human trials in Australia.
La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar welcomed Wintermute to the University.
“Wintermute is a dynamic and visionary company, leading the way in the global fight to combat antimicrobial resistance,” said Professor Dewar.
“I am thrilled that the team has chosen to relocate its US operation to La Trobe’s thriving Research and Innovation Precinct – a key component of our $5 billion University City of the Future.
“The move to Melbourne, and the opportunity to work with world-leading researchers at La Trobe, offers exciting potential for biomedical innovation – a huge growth market for Australia.”
Victorian-born Wintermute CEO Dr Geoff Rogers said he was delighted to have moved his global biopharmaceutical business to La Trobe.
“After establishing our business in the US, it’s fantastic to be back in Melbourne and to be based at La Trobe – a city and a University really spearheading healthcare research and innovation,” said Dr Rogers.
“I’m excited about the prospect of taking our breakthrough antibiotic to market in Australia.
“It has huge potential to change the lives of the many patients who desperately need it, as well as attracting significant investment into the country.”
Chief scientific officer and inventor Dr Thomas Rau co-founded Wintermute Biomedical with Wes Hale in 2012, with the ambition of discovering a truly novel, next-generation antibiotic to combat anti-microbial resistance.
Wintermute appointed Australians Dr Geoff Rogers as CEO and Dr Priscilla Rogers as COO in 2017.
The team discovered a new compound that shows no signs of succumbing to antimicrobial resistance and patented it as a broad-spectrum antibiotic.